Driving NHC organocatalysis on water through hydrophobic hydration for the synthesis of diverse heterocycles and carbocycles

Abstract

Unprecedented acceleration in the rate of the N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) organocatalysis was observed while performing the reaction in water medium with NaCl as an additive during the synthesis of diverse spirooxindole-γ-butyrolactone derivatives. The seminal role of hydrophobic hydration effect for the acceleration of the reaction was further proved by performing the reaction with antihydrophobic additive LiClO4 and using denser D2O solvent.